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He married Terry (Persson)
in 1970. He received a bachelor’s degree in 1973 and a master’s degree in 1975 in Political
Science from the University of Montana. After a career in commercial banking he retired from First Security
Bank 1999.
He was the treasurer for the Montana
State Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial; was one of the founders and first treasurer of the Swift Boat Sailors Association
(the fraternal organization for Swift Boat sailors); was one of the founders and the national treasurer for Swift Boat Veterans
& POWs for Truth; and was on the board and the treasurer of the Admiral Roy F. Hoffmann Foundation. Weymouth is the author
of two books: War on the Rivers A Swift Boat Sailor’s Chronicle of the Battle for the Mekong Delta and This
is Latch The Story of Rear Admiral Roy F. Hoffmann." According to the book description of
War on the Rivers: A Swift Boat Sailor's Chronicle of the Battle for the Mekong Delta, “This
is a story about sailors, and one sailor in particular, asked to do extraordinary things and make great sacrifices during
the Vietnam War.”
W. H McDonald of the American Authors Association said of War on the
Rivers: A Swift Boat Sailor's Chronicle of the Battle for the Mekong Delta, I am writing this review while listening
in the background to "The Doors" singing "This is the End". That song played in the movie "Apocalypse
Now" and still sends shivers up my spine. Reading "War On The River: A Swift Boat Sailor's Chronicle of the Battle
for the Mekong Delta" by Navy veteran and author Weymouth D. Symmes - also did that same thing. His book however, is
much more than a tale of swift boats in action in Nam. It tells a coming-of-age story that captures the emotions and spirit
of those young warriors. In particular, the young author himself, as we follow him from through boot camp and his four years
in the Navy.
Some day people will realize that these
"river boat cowboys" made life hell for the VC. They were part of what is called "The Brown Water Navy".
They were sometimes our only military resource in the Mekong Delta besides air power operations. Someone had to go down those
muddy rivers and patrol places that were as dangerous as any place on this planet! Truly a group of brave hearted men. Many
were killed or wounded but all of them were heroes.”
Weymouth's memoir is not just about his river battles but also does a good job
giving the reader an idea of what life was like for a sailor on an aircraft carrier off the coast of Vietnam. The book touches
the personal lives of those men who lived in historic times, risking their lives for things many others would never support,
or understand. It is well written and will engage the reader's fullest attention. This book does not try to glorify war, nor
battle, but it comes across any way, as a strong tribute to these men. In the end, the reader will label them all as heroes!
And truly they all were.
I have read many books over the last
decade on swift boats and the river wars in Nam - however, this is best of the lot. If one had to read just one book on this
genre, then this is the book they need to read. It is not some dry facts and numbers book told by someone with no connection
to the events - this is from a real survivor of those times - and he has a personal and entertaining story to share. A great
memoir and one that I personally recommend!”
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